Switch plug



Patented Dec. 26, 1933 .Iohn

l swi'ron PLUG! I I I W. Hudson, St. *Alb'ans, N. Y., 'assignor Henry Hyman, Broklyn, N.

. KpplicationMay,6,1929.' Serial No. 360,672

{15 clai 01. zoo- 51) This invention relates to an electric plug-that is provided with a switchmechanis'in in the plug with means extending through'the' side of theplug for operating the switch mechanism. Heretofore, -in devices of this character the switch operating means has been limited in its travel by contact with the edges of the wall of the opening in the insulating material through which it extends with the result that, when the plug is made of a breakable insulating material, it is likely to-becom'e chippedorcracked by the switch operating'member.

By the present invention a'metal stop is provided .in the plug,;whioh isso shaped and located' that the switch operating member is stopped at opposite ends of its'travel by-coming into contact with stationary metal parts.

The invention will be understood from the description inconnection with'the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a 'vertical section through an illustrative embodiment of "the invention; Fig. 2 'is a similar section on an' enlarged scale, partly broken away showing the vided with central longitudinally disposed par-V titions or ribs 3 to separate the inside space into two approximately equal spaces, The upper ends of the sideme'mbers are provided with semi-circular grooves 4 intowhich the end of the spring guard 5' for the electric wire is retained. The spring guard extends through. the semi-circular holes 6 in the members l and'2 which make a circular holewhen the members are assembled.

Anelongated opening 8 is provided'on .one side rot-the plug through which a switch operating member extendsand a. plurality of transverse openings 9 is provided in each member .1 and 2 through which bolts extend for holding the mem-' I a I V 7 terminal clips maybe ofa well known. type. and

hers together. a g I I 'A metallic insert '10, provided with an internally threaded hole, is anchored in. an exa tension on the side member 2, preferably by. molding the insulating material around it so that it will not turn. A pivot 11 has a reduced threaded end extending into the threaded hole in the insert 10 and has anenlarged polygonal head 12 atthe other'endr -;The switchoperating member that extends end with an insulating knob'or button 14. The

the portion .28 I tact therewith and be stopped thereby whenwt switch is in its open position. I w

thin shank 15 'of the switch operating member eatends'through the elongated opening Band is connectedto a box-like portion 16 that, is open are preferably'made integral-with each other.

The box-like-p'ortion 16 is provided with holes 1'? through the top and bottom sides to accommoedate the pivot 11. A lip or extension-18; having its end reducedto provide a coil spring seatpis made on the side opposite the shank 15 by bendalong one side. The shank 15'and1the'box-16 in'g out the metal approximately'at right angles to the wall, as indicated at 19.4 r

A metal stop. 20 in the form ofa fiat strip ofw asufiicient distance through the'member 20 to project into: a hole that .is L provided in the, side member'l, thus preventing the. stop 20 vfrom turnirig-aboutthe pivot 11. The stop:20 is pro- :vided with a stop shoulder 23 along one edge, its

opposite edge being straight.

portion 16 'of'the switch operating member and the side of the end of the strip 20 in which the hole 21 is provided to keep the strip 20 in place. A switch member having flat parallel sides 25 is provided with holes 26by which it is pivoted upon'the pivot ll'withthe sides 25 lying .on popposite sides of the box-like portion '16 of the switch operatingmember. The switch member is provided with an: outwardly bent end portion 27 integraliwiththe portion 28 that connects-the sides 25 and is preferably integral therewith. The

for an; electric wire isprovided- A sleeve 24 (Fig.- 4) 'is.providedaround the 7 switch in its closed position; Fig. 3 is a View i ot h w h up i of th xsimilar to Fig. 2, showing the switch'in its'openposition; Fig. 4 is asection along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, showportion 28is provided along its edge opposite the end 27' with a'spring seat29 for'the coil spring this groove being located in sucha position that of the switch will. come into' con- Terminal clips 33 and 34 are located-in the plug between the sidemembers 1- and 2.. These the clip 33 is provided with'ascrew 35 that extends into' a threaded.metallic insert that is imbedded in'the side.'mernber 1, similar to the in-- crating Figs. 1 and 2., the switch is 'closed,the current sert li), whei'ebythe clip 33"is securely held in i the switch oppassing from the Wire that is connected to the insulating material.

binding post 22 through the'strip 20, pivot 11,

switch '25, bent end 27 and clip 33. into the iron or other electrical device, thence back through the clip 34 and binding post 36 to the other wire of the circuit.

When the switch operating member is moved into the position shown in Fig. 3, the circuit is broken. The spring seat 18 in moving from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3--

compresses the spring 30 and when the spring seat 18 passes beyond the center line from the spring seat 29 to the pivot 11, the springcauses the switch 25 to be snapped into the position shown in Fig. 3, the switch being stopped by the wall 32. A similar action takes place when the switch operating member is moved in the opposite direction, namely, the spring 30 causes the switch 25 to be snapped into position where the end 27 contacts with the clip 33, as indicated in Fig. 2.

When the button 14. is turned into the position shown in Fig. 3, the edge of the'shank 15 comes into contact with the shoulderv 23. on the strip 20, before the shank l5 reachesthe end of the opening 8, and, therefore, does not strike the brittle When the button 14 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2, the bent portion 1910f the box-like portion 16 of the switch operating member strikes the straight edge of the strip or stop 20, as indicated in Fig. 2, thus stopping the switch operating member before the edge ofthe shank 15 strikes the lower end of'the opening 8, thereby preventing injury to the insulating material- I claim: 7

1. In a switch plug of insulating material, a

pivoted contact member, a member for operating said contact member, and a metal stop inside of said plug for said contact operating member at each end ofits travel, said stop comprising a portion of the electric circuit through said plug.

2. In a switch plugof insulating material, a pivoted contact member, a member for operating said contact member, and a metal stop anchored in said plug for said contact operating member at each end of'its travel, said stop comprising a portion of the electric circuit through said plug.

3. In a switch plug of insulating material, a pivoted contact member, a metallic member for operating said contact member, a metal stop anchored in said plug for said contact operating member ateach end of its travel, and a binding post carried by said stop.

4:. In a switch plug of insulating material, a pivoted contact member, a member for operating said contact member, a springconnecting said contact member and said operating member, and a metal stop inside of said plug for said contact operating member at each end of its travel, said stop comprising a portion of the electric circuit through said plug.

. 5. In a switch plug of insulating material, a pivoted contact member, a metallic member for operating said contactmember, and a metal stop anchored in said plug andattached' to and supported by. said insulating material, having a shoulder against which said operating member side of said plug, and a single metallic member in said plug to limit the extent of movement of said switch operating member said stop comprising a portion of the electric circuit through said 7. In a switch plug of insulating material, a switch operating member extending through the side of said plug, a snap switch connected to said switch operating member, and a metallic member in said plug to limit the extent of movement of movement of said switch operating member to prevent it from striking the sides of said open:- ing said stop comprising a portion of. the electric circuit through said plug. V.

9. In a switch plug, a snap switch, an operating T, member for said switch, a stop member for said '95 operating member, said stop member being in the electrical circuit through the switch, and a binding post connected tosaid stopsmember.

10. In a switch plug of insulating material, a pivoted switch member, a pivoted operating mem- "10d ber for saidswitch member, a compression spring between said members to provide snap action of said switch member in both directions of its movement, and a stationary metallic member anchored in said plug having stops thereon. for the extremities of movementof said. operating member said stop comprising a portion oftlie electric circuit through said plug. v

11.. In a switch plug of insulating material,-, v a pivoted switch member, a pivoted operating member for said switch member, .a compression spring between said members to provide snap action of said switch member in both directions of its movement, a stationary metallic member I anchored in said plug having stops thereon for the extremities of movement of said operating member, and a pivot extending through said switch member, operating member and stationary metallic member and anchored in said insulating material. 7

12. In a switch plug of insulating materiaL'a pivot, a switch member pivoted on said pivot, an operating member for said switch member pivoted on said pivot, and a metallic member fixed. in said plug, said pivot passing through said fixed member and said fixed member limiting the movement of said switch operating memberin opposite directions. Y

13. In a switch plug of insulating material, a l pivot, a switch member pivoted on said pivotfii'g an operating member for said switch member pivoted on saidpivot and a metallic member fixed in said plug, said pivot passing through said fixed member and said switch operating member hav-.. ing portions on opposite sides of said pivot'con-"ig tacting with said fixed member at the extremities of movement of said switchoperating member.

14. In a switch plug ofinsulating material a pivot, and a switch operating member having a,, box-like portion pivoted on said pivot, said mem-*' ber having a handle and aprojection on the other side of said box-like portion opposite said handle in a space between the planes of the side walls of said box-like portion. I v

15. In a switch plug; of insulating material, a pivot, a switch operating member having a boxlike portion pivoted on said pivot, and an extension on said box-like portion on a side thereof away from the shank oi said switch operating member- JOHN w; HUDSON. I 5 

